Understanding the fat gene. Obesity common variant FTO RS9939609

ABSTRACT

Obesity, attributable to the interaction of genetic makeup, lifestyle and environment Factors are a multifactorial disease. However, not all people with similar genetics or same environmental setup become obese. Currently, extensive research is being conducted regarding increases in the prevalence of obesity, apparent in many societies, studying their eating habits and physical activity. Although, people with obesity have the equal distribution of body fat, yet they do not suffer from the same medical ailments. The recent identification of obesity-risk FTO variants rs9939609 associated with body mass index [BMI] and risk of obesity in multiple populations has led to the major success in the field of obesity genetics, making FTO the first locus unequivocally associated with adiposity. The role of FTO gene as a risk factor of obesity has also been identified by the Genome wide association which is entirely a new approach. The function of FTO gene was unknown, but recent investigation showed that the FTO gene regulates ghrelin a key mediator of ingestive behavior, which might explain a predisposition to increased food intake leading to obesity. People with rs9939609 variant of the FTO gene are at increased risk of obesity they have higher circulating levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, and feel hungry soon after eating a meal. This review focuses on the genetics of FTO gene and the association of each additionally minor allele of [FTO] rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism [SNPs] with the risk of obesity